Mention the name “Rockshire” to any student: They will most likely recall a funny memory and tell a story, or ask, “What time is the meet-up?” The abandoned mall has been part of students’ lives and their high school experience for nearly a decade. Located a mere three-minute walk from the school, the center used to have a mall with restaurants and shops. But, as stated by several users on a Reddit thread, the mall was already dying in the 1980s and was finally abandoned about 12 years ago.

In the years after its closure, Rockshire became a haven for juniors’ cars and a place for underclassmen to get picked up and dropped off by parents to skip the tedious school traffic. This past summer, however, EYA, a Bethesda-based real estate development firm, began the process of transforming the rundown shopping center into a mixed-use neighborhood. According to the Moco Show, EYA will reimagine Rockshire as a “pedestrian-friendly community featuring a mix of new homes, retail space, and public amenities. The new development will feature 60 total residential units, including 31 single-family detached homes and 29 townhomes.”

In addition to housing, EYA is also planning to leave room for commercial space and recreational areas. This element is “intended to serve as a neighborhood-focused amenity, and it has already been confirmed that a new Dunkin’ will be part of the redevelopment. The project’s design also emphasizes open space, including a neighborhood park, playground and recreation areas, as well as a pedestrian pathway to connect residents to the nearby Rockshire Community Pool and local trails. ”According to Moco, “As demolition is currently underway, EYA has set a completion date for 2027.”

Although there seems to be excitement surrounding the community, students — particularly juniors — were negatively impacted. Junior Elena Firoozfar said, “Not having Rockshire as a parking option has made coming and leaving school more difficult, especially playing a fall sport. Having the option to park at Frost is beneficial, but walking up the hill after a long practice is so tiring.”

Frost is always an option for junior parking, but limited space makes the application process competitive, causing students to be without a place to park.

For seniors, the closure of Rockshire is almost like the end of an era. Senior Ksusha Ulyanova said, “Rockshire has been such a fundamental part of my high school experience since I was a freshman. I remember groups of friends meeting up there before football games and juniors racing for the best spot in the morning. The walk to school from Rockshire was honestly the only annoying part, especially if it was raining and cold in the morning. By the time you could get to school, you were likely half frozen and wet.”

For freshmen, however, the possibility of being a mere three-minute walk away from a food area is quite appealing. Freshman Natalie Shapiro said, “Many students will benefit from this, being able to walk to get coffee or food will maybe even open up the idea of open lunch to administration.”